We can't have it.'įortunately for the 76ers, they had Harden turning back the clock to his own MVP days for the second time in a week. And I seen him two, three plays in a row not do that. But I've guarded him for a lot of years, and when he's aggressive and assertive, it's impossible. 'Nobody can guard Joel one-on-one,' Tucker said.

Tucker to give the newly minted MVP a fiery pep talk on the court to try to pump him up, with Embiid later admitting he didn't play well. Embiid got his shot blocked by longtime nemesis Al Horfordthree times in the final few minutes of the fourth quarter - prompting P.J. Philadelphia needed Harden to be, as Embiid, in particular, appeared to run out of gas in the game's closing minutes. It's just about being aggressive, attacking the rim, finding guys, and he was fantastic tonight.' 'That's what he needs to do every night,' said Embiid, who finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in 46 minutes in just his third game back from a sprained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. Then in Games 2 and 3, he combined to shoot 5-for-28 from the field - the worst two-game shooting effort of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

The Eastern Conference showdown now heads back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday knotted at two games apiece - and does so because Harden rediscovered the magic he had in Game 1, when he poured in 45 points to lead Philadelphia to a win without Joel Embiid. And he hit the tying shot in the closing seconds of regulation before burying a corner 3-pointer with 19 seconds to go in the contest to lift Philadelphia to a stunning 116-115 overtime victoryon Sunday at Wells Fargo Center. Harden finished with a spectacular line, scoring 42 points on 16-for-23 shooting, including 6-for-9 from 3-point range, to go along with eight rebounds, nine assists, four steals, a block and just one turnover in 47 minutes.

Finding Our Way by Jayson James